Review: The Quarterback by Tal Bauer
SYNOPSIS:
Falling for his friend’s straight dad might be the worst mistake Colton Hall has ever made.
Colton’s best friend is gay. He’s not: he’s never been attracted to men. So why the hell is he fantasizing about his friend’s dad? Besides, Nick Swanscott is straight. A devoted father and the best man Colton’s ever known. He deserves more than to be the object of Colton’s crush.
The NFL is waiting for Colton, but he decides to stick it out for his senior year in college before joining the league, a decision that proves disastrous when an injury tears him from the game. In the blink of an eye, Colton goes from being a top draft pick to potentially never playing football again.
But Nick is there through his recovery. He takes care of Colton every day and shows him a future that might hold something more than being a superstar quarterback. Maybe Colton’s life isn’t over.
And Colton’s crush explodes: full-on, head over heels, hopelessly falling in love.
He’s so screwed. He’s got to get these feelings under control. All those dreams of kissing Nick can never become reality. And there’s no way Nick could ever love him back.
Right?
REVIEW:
The longer I sit an marinate over finishing this book, the more I realized I didn’t like it. I am sure I am in the minority as it appears Tal Bauer has a cult following but Colton deserved better. Not only in terms of Nick but in football and life in general. Tal Bauer did him dirty and I didn’t care for the way he patched things up.
First I will start with Colton’s relationship with Nick. This kind of took me by complete surprise and everything about the relationship didn’t fit for me. It felt forced and left me questioning where Nick’s head was because at the end of the day aside from Colton’s muscles and need for reassurances, I couldn’t figure out why Nick was attracted to him. Colton’s crush seems to stem more from ‘daddy issues’ than actual attraction.
Then there is the entire plot line of the story which is Colton’s injury. I hate how Colton essentially threw away football. Something that was literally his life and motivation for waking up in the morning was tossed aside for no reason. He could have rehabbed and healed and instead he just drops healing as his priority because of his attraction to Nick? No, come on, if any character in this book deserved a career in the NFL, it was Colton. And instead he eventually heals, plays one last game, and then kisses football good-bye? I don’t buy it, believe it, or support it.
Finally, I think the last nail in the proverbial coffin for me was the communication breakdowns… EVERYWHERE. Nick with Colton, Colton with Nick, Colton with Wes, Colton with Justin, Nick with Justin, just everything was constantly falling apart. Mostly, because Colton couldn’t and wouldn’t tell anyone how he was actually feeling. Moral of the story… this story wasn’t for me.
LINKS:
